I was "GSR", then I was like "Craig's List+Honda scene=NOPE", after that I was "NB MIATA+Cheap=YES"

The threat title is the best tl;dr (too long;didn't read) I could come up with.

Essentially I was shopping for something different as I have owned quite a few NA Miata's. I drove a 98 GSR at a Chump race and loved it. I was hunting GSR's. I wrote a thread on it too. The GSR thing was not meant to be. I was so depressed looking at hacked up cars that were once great rides. The stock cars were so over priced. Even the ones with questionable "mods" and "custom interiors" that looked like someone threw up day glo paint all over the plastic bits in the car. I had to consider alternatives.

So I'm surfing Craig's List, for days. I saw some good deals on there but nothing to spend cash on. Then I saw an ad that was a mere four hours old for a 99 Miata. I checked the pic and it looked...decent. Not stunning. Not untouched by time. It looked touched pretty harshly a few times. It was all there and a 99 with that glorious Mazda massaged head and variable intake. I decided to check it out.

Here's the breakdown:

• Doesn't run but will turn over. It coughed a few times on starting fluid.
• The battery is weak. I could crank the starter for 3 - 4 seconds at a time.
• Rear tires are shot.
• Fronts are good.
• Has some hits. Most notable is one in the front that has cracked the headlight assembly mounting points. One in the rear where the paint is rubbed off a bit. This car is destined for track work so I'm not too worried.
• It looks like it has a torsen.
• Stock, everywhere.
• 5 speed, of course.
• The top has a small hole over the passenger seat.
• The worst? Was a smoked in car. ARGH.
• It does come with some sort of amp and double bass speaker box in the trunk so hopefully I can sell that for the purchase price of the car.

I paid $1500 for it. Will the motor have a blown head gasket? Is the trans thoroughly screwed? I'm tempted to put up a build thread just to document the saga. If no big parts are busted I could be on to a serious deal. If something large is trash...might be a bust.

All said this is my story of how a CL deal was posted. I took a gamble on it and struck fast. This happy/sad tale of automotive heroics/stupidity can happen to you too but only if you try/are smart enough to walk away!

I would like to subscribe to your news letter

if the motor bottom end or trans is trash replacements still aren't bad. As long as there isn't rust lurking under body repair if it's straight you've done well.

I can't believe you wasted all that money when you could have bought a turbo Capri

Nice score. Heck, the Torsen alone is worth 2/3 of the purchase price.

Color me jealous!

nepa03focus wrote: I would like to subscribe to your news letter

Might be time to get stupid. Thanks for the vote of confidence.

captdownshift wrote: if the motor bottom end or trans is trash replacements still aren't bad. As long as there isn't rust lurking under body repair if it's straight you've done well.

I was thinking the same. I checker prices on various parts (engine, trans) and thought "I could buy one of these parts and probably still be ok on price.." That motivated me to pull the trigger.

Keith Tanner wrote: I can't believe you wasted all that money when you could have bought a turbo Capri. Nice score. Heck, the Torsen alone is worth 2/3 of the purchase price.

HA! I couldn't buy an XR2 Capri for that price around here. Well...maybe my Mom's but she won't sell it.

The torsen was a surprise. I didn't realize it had the power package until today. Saw the windows, side mirrors, but it does not have a power antenna.

Watch out..I might call you guys for parts or whatever. Turbo'ing the car has crossed my mind. I'm trying to resist taking another hit from that sweet, sweet charge pipe...er...crack pipe.

1966stang wrote: Color me jealous!

Please don't be. I have a bit of a road to travel ahead. It could be a super highway to blissful topless motoring or a pot holed dirt track with bumper to bumper traffic and we're all driving VW bugs running on two cylinders.

If this has taught me anything it is to scour CL for those deal post's that disappear in an hour and to educate yourself before hand. I've also learned I'm a mechanical masochist.

Ya know the thought actually crossed my mind to steer you over to miata when I was replying to your other thread. I love Honduhs, but I hate 99% of the owners. I always attract negative attention in mine. Would like to go miata, but I've tasted the rotary and it is good.

Oh! And good luck with your new toy. Hopefully it's a cheap fix to get it running.

This thread has potential. Keep us updated and give us pics!

You know, i see the GSR as similar to the Mazdaspeed Miata of Integras. It cost at least twice what a clean NA Miata or Integra LS/GS costs, but then again if you were to spend the same amount of money building up a 'lower' model you'd do many things different and maybe end up with a better car.

So, to me, an Integra is like a Miata. You either spend a bunch of money on the high trim level, OR you buy an NA/NB / Teg LS/GS and do it up right yourself. This is completely accepted in the Miata world but i'm not sure if you even considered it for the Integra (since i didnt read that thread).

Anyway, congrats on another miata..

clutchsmoke wrote: Ya know the thought actually crossed my mind to steer you over to miata when I was replying to your other thread. I love Honduhs, but I hate 99% of the owners. I always attract negative attention in mine. Would like to go miata, but I've tasted the rotary and it is good. Oh! And good luck with your new toy. Hopefully it's a cheap fix to get it running.

Thanks for the thought Clutchsmoke.

I can't say as I hated the Honda guys. It just seemed like the scene was not what I was used to. That negative attention. Yeah. I got that as a teenager driving an undesirable muscle car albeit irresponsibly. Too much law enforcement attention. I was thinking that if I drove an Acura that I might have to deal with that.

Lof8 wrote: This thread has potential. Keep us updated and give us pics!

Thanks Lof8. I'm not good at working on a car AND taking pics. I'm debating a build thread.

Vigo wrote: You know, i see the GSR as similar to the Mazdaspeed Miata of Integras. It cost at least twice what a clean NA Miata or Integra LS/GS costs, but then again if you were to spend the same amount of money building up a 'lower' model you'd do many things different and maybe end up with a better car. So, to me, an Integra is like a Miata. You either spend a bunch of money on the high trim level, OR you buy an NA/NB / Teg LS/GS and do it up right yourself. This is completely accepted in the Miata world but i'm not sure if you even considered it for the Integra (since i didnt read that thread). Anyway, congrats on another miata..

It is true what you're saying. I saw as more boosted Honda's than I've seen boosted Miata's in my neck of the woods. Those guys aren't afraid to change things, for good or bad.